Tomb of the Roman Soldier

Although its façade is its most recognizable feature — with three carved figures inset between columns — the tomb complex consists of several different architectural elements with varying degrees of preservation.

[1] The Tomb of the Soldier is located on the southeastern outskirts of the city center of Petra, in the valley known as Wadi Farasa.

Its position between eastern Wadi Farasa and the path up to a major high place of sacrifice, leads archaeologists to speculate that it may have acted as a territorial marker or gateway between the two spaces.

[clarification needed][1] The main façade of the Tomb of the Soldier is 14 meters high[3] and has four columns topped with Nabataean capitals.

The entrance to the tomb appears to have had two small carved pillars framing its doorway, although the left column (from the perspective of one looking at the facade) has eroded away.

According to Schmid, these characteristics are in keeping with Mediterranean artistic and iconographic traditions; however, interestingly, despite mutilation, both of their heads show evidence that they had long hair.

Along the walls of the triclinium there are alternating columns and shallow alcoves, and in the middle of the room there are the remains of a U-shaped triple bench which in Roman society was used for sitting or reclining.

This level of preservation has allowed archaeologists to gather important information for comparison of the varied tomb and compound structure around the city of Petra.